Rap Rock Facts

Origins and early development

Rap rock developed from the early to mid-1980s when hip hop DJs incorporated rock records into their routines and rappers began incorporating original and sampled rock instrumentation into hip hop music. Early hip hop DJs utilized breaks from rock records and post-punk and new wave artists produced early rap rock recordings, and acts such as Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys reached crossover audiences with rap rock sounds.

Evolution or diversification

Old school rap rock had ties to hardcore punk and post-punk with breakbeats and emphasized integrated hip hop elements rather than the heavier riffs and lurching beats associated with rap metal. The genre expanded and its mainstream commercial success peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Cultural or musical significance

Rap rock helped unite rock and hip hop audiences through high-profile collaborations and crossover hits, notably revitalizing rock acts and broadening hip hop's audience. Producers and artists moved between hip hop and punk or rock contexts, further blending styles and influencing subsequent rap rock recordings.